Manual layup of composites plies is a labor intensive process. The operator has to manually place and consolidate each individual material patch to produce the desired preform in line with detailed work instructions. Airborne’s Automated Laminating solution is a multifunctional system that combines robotised tape laying or placement, preform cutting, and pick-and-place to deliver a bespoke blank. On its own or combined with other automated processes, it increases the productivity of the lamination team, ensures repeatable processing and enables a seamless transition from design to manufacturing via Airborne’s automated workflow.
What are the benefits of automated tape laying (ATL) and laminating?
Airborne’s Automated Laminating solution ensures that laminate designs are transferred efficiently from the design board to the workshop. The engineering work needed to transfer composites design into manufacturable laminates is reduced and the manufacturing process is made more efficient. Overall, this results in reduced lead time, faster product development, and an expanded design envelope. All so you can increase your competitiveness and capture new business opportunities.
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Eliminates manual lay-up
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On-the-fly programming: no engineer needed
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Seamless integration with next production step
Further advantages are:
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Upscale your production
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Reduce production and engineering costs
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Shorten your time to market
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Manufacture more diverse products
Further advantages are:
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Reduce material waste
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Reduce paperwork
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Become more competitive
How does automated fibre or tape placement work?
The design is imported in Airborne’s cloud-based or local automated programming platform. The robot paths are automatically generated, and the program is uploaded to the laminating solution. The layup ‘gripping’ process can then begin. Once all the plies are laid up, the machine automatically picks the cutting end effector to trim the preform and cut the required sections. The pick-and-place end effector is then picked and used for placing the pre-cut preform sections, gripped by special suction cups. All to create the bespoke preform with all the required reinforcements and pad-ups in place.
Specifications
Airborne’s Automated Laminating solution is designed around a laminating, a pick-and-place and a cutting (or trimming) end effector with the following capabilities and performance parameters:
Want more information? Request our technical specifications to get more details about main properties, materials, benefits and floor space utilisation etc.
More automated solutions
Automated Kitting
Our Kitting solution delivers fully sorted and sequenced composite ply kits to increase productivity, improve material utilisation and reduce work preparation.
Automated Honeycomb Potting
Our Honeycomb Potting solution enables easy manufacturing of locally reinforced honeycomb sandwich panels, while reducing work preparation, material waste and the cost of quality.
Automated Preforming
Our Preforming solution is the solution to manufacture tailored blanks or preforms, 100% netshape, and for all composite materials: thermoset prepreg, dry fibre or thermoplastic composites.
Contact
For more information about our products and services, please contact:
Mattia Di Francesco – Business Development Manager Airborne
Tel +31(0)61 3846576
m.difrancesco@airborne.com
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